A4 Thursday, June 12, 2014 FOCUS Secret world

The Post’s Lana Lam was the only Hong Kong reporter to interview the whistle-blower during his time in the city. Here, she did not report certain details about the circumstances of the Gore says tells of how the encounter came about, her hour-long webchat with the fugitive and the frenzy that erupted afterwards interview at the time because there were concerns about Snowden’s security. Snowden The voicemail message on the We also had to firm up the morning of Wednesday, June 12 information and make sure each performed last year was simple and to the story was published at the right point: “There’s someone I’d like time and to the complete satis- you to meet.” faction of both the newspaper vital service It was from a contact with and our sources. whom I had worked to uncover My contacts suggested I get a details of the secret rendition in different mobile number – set- Former NSA man was 2004 of Libyan dissident Sami ting the tone for two full weeks of al-Saadi from Chek Lap Kok air- round-the-clock fact-checking more a whistle-blower port to the torture cells of the late and hush-hush meetings. than a traitor, former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. As the first online alerts went The story revealed for the first out on our exclusive interview US vice-president says time that Hong Kong was part of a with Snowden, the newsroom secret campaign – run by United was abuzz – as were the office ...... States and British intelligence – to screens showing our online The Guardian kidnap and torture suspected hit-rates. terrorists, interrogating them When the first stories hit our with little regard for human rights website, traffic shot up. The Edward Snowden secured his or due process. frenzy increased further when highest endorsement yet in the To this day, the rest of the international television crews set US when former vice-president Hong Kong media have ignored up camp outside the Post’s office Al Gore described the leaking of the scandal of Saadi’s secret The room at the Sheraton in Tsim Sha Tsui where Lana Lam was led before the interview with Snowden could take place. Photos: Felix Wong in Causeway Bay. top secret intelligence docu- rendition, despite the fact that it It was 2am before I left the ments as “an important service”. was sanctioned at the highest office, dodging the television Asked if he regarded Snowden levels of their own government. my contact was on the way. The to worldwide fame, or notoriety, the view of the harbour. Along crews outside. Sleep was fitful at as a traitor or whistle-blower, What was to follow was a story relaxed chatter of locals enjoying depending on your viewpoint. with the sounds of people mov- best and what little I had was Gore on Tuesday veered away no one would be able ignore and a day off was in stark contrast to Also there was Ewen MacAskill, ing about and chatting, it felt so ended by my doorbell at 7am. from the “traitor” label. He one in which my role and that of my mood. one of The Guardian reporters On the laptop far removed from the world in Paranoid thoughts born out of refused to go as far as labelling this newspaper has been the sub- After a few minutes, a call who broke the first stories about which I now found myself. the story’s subject matter were him a whistle-blower but sig- ject of uninformed conjecture, came instructing me to go up to a the NSA’s secret and wide-rang- screen was a Asked if he was offended by quickly dispelled when the early nalled he viewed him as being unverified rumour and plain different level of the hotel. ing collection of phone and web chat box with accusations that he was a traitor, morning caller turned out to be a closer to that category than a trai- untruth which, for the sake of When I got there, I found data from its citizens. he replied: “No, I believe in free- tenacious former colleague in tor, saying: “What he revealed in accuracy, demands a response. myself on a totally deserted floor. They stepped outside to dis- the name Verax, dom of expression. search of a scoop. the course of violating important “I have something very I looked around, but couldn’t cuss their next move, leaving me “I acted in good faith, but it is Over the next few days and laws included violations of the US important. I want to reach you,’’ find anyone. alone in the room. Snowden’s only right that the public form its weeks, my e-mail inbox was constitution that were way more the voicemail said. There was an Then, in the distance behind a online handle own opinion.” flooded with requests for inter- serious than the crimes he unusually urgent edge to my large column, I saw my contact – Undivided attention Snowden’s reputation and views, as well as misguided committed.” contact’s voice. Just three days and a man who was introduced credibility came under fire the requests for me to give up my Snowden leaked US and Brit- had passed since Edward Snow- to me as a colleague – standing The curtains were partially at a black laptop. On the screen moment he broke cover and his sources. ish documents to The Guardian den had broken cover in Hong slightly out of sight, but obviously drawn, offering a glimpse of was a chat box with the name concerns about this were appar- and The Washington Post in June Kong and my mind was racing as waiting for me. Victoria Harbour, and several Verax, Snowden’s online handle. ent during our conversation. Truth and lies last year, starting a worldwide de- I returned the call. Speaking in hushed tones, we laptops were strewn around. This was it. I had his undivid- “Just please try not to make bate on the balance between sur- My contact apologised for took the lift to the executive floor A camera was set up on a ed attention. me look like a jerk. I’m getting Snowden’s decision last summer veillance and privacy. His revela- bothering me on a public holiday and into one of the suites. tripod and a half-eaten Nashi “Hi Lana, thanks for coming enough of that in the media to reveal details of US cyber- tions have led to proposed – it was the Dragon Boat festival – Inside, my suspicions that the pear lay on the table beside a for this,” Verax, Latin for “truth- already,” he said. attacks on Hong Kong and main- changes in legislation in the US and said the situation required cloak and dagger operation was small bottle of red wine, which teller”, wrote as we began a He spoke about his concerns land Chinese targets to the Post and a backlash against govern- complete secrecy. for former US National Security was opened, but not empty. real-time online chat using a for his family as well as his faith in falls neatly into his modus ope- ment surveillance by major tele- Our relationship was based Agency contractor Snowden When they returned, we secure network that encrypts the Hong Kong’s legal system before randi, which is to work closely coms and internet companies. on a mutual trust built over many were confirmed. moved to a different location conversation. he signed off. “Okay. Thank you with trusted media outlets to ex- months, so without hesitation I Sitting behind a desk in front within the hotel, but not before Snowden went straight to the for agreeing to meet on such pose cyber espionage pro- accepted the need for discretion. of a laptop was Laura Poitras, Poitras confiscated our mobile reason we were both there. “The short notice for this,” he wrote. grammes run by the NSA. Names and details could not Snowden’s closest confidante. phones, saying they must be left United States government has Then he was gone. His decision also ensured that be mentioned over the phone. I She is also the documentary in the room. committed a tremendous num- I talked with Poitras for a few his profile in Hong Kong was was instructed to be in the lobby film-maker who made the 12- I asked Poitras when I would ber of crimes against Hong more minutes. We shook hands raised dramatically. of the Sheraton Hotel in Tsim Sha minute video of Snowden that be meeting Snowden. “Soon”, Kong,” he said. “The PRC as well.” and I left. Just two days after the Post Tsui that afternoon. And I was to catapulted the then 29-year-old she said. For security reasons, the Shortly after this, the network published the first in a series of come alone. former CIA infrastructure analyst meeting would not be face-to- we were using dropped out a few In the spotlight stories, hundreds of supporters It was a short call, big on face, but online. times. Snowden was worried. took to the streets, marching to repercussions. Then came more waiting and “Sorry,” he said. “Please Stepping back outside into the the US consulate and demanding the opportunity to talk with advise Laura that I am being oppressive humidity, the blaring that the local authorities protect Waiting game MacAskill, who described Snow- repeatedly dropped by the Jitsi car horns and the clacking traffic him from extradition. Al Gore expressed strong views den as “calm”. network I am using to communi- signals jolted me back to a noisy Since last June, several stories The Sheraton lobby was busier I found myself He added that since joining cate. This is probably due to a street-level reality – and the real- have emerged calling into ques- than usual because of the public on a totally the team covering the story, he computer network attack,” he isation that the Post’s deadlines tion my professional back- holiday when I arrived around had learned a lot more about the wrote. After a few minutes, it were looming. ground, including allegations of lunchtime and took a seat near deserted floor. need for security while commu- stabilised and we continued. The next few hours were a connections to mainland Chi- the front desk. nicating with sources. He said The hour-long conversation frenetic mix of checks and nese and Russian intelligence. In the course As I scanned the faces of holi- I looked around, encryption was a key tool. covered his plans to stay in Hong double-checks with sources and All these claims are false, of violating law, daymakers, business travellers but couldn’t After about 45 minutes, I was Kong as well as a detailed expla- discussions with editors as the entirely unfounded, based on and families in the busy check-in told the interview with Snowden nation of documents which, he stories came together. fanciful speculation and written he also provided area, a text message confirmed find anyone was about to start and I sat down claimed, showed Hong Kong and At points throughout the by people with no knowledge of an important mainland Chinese computers interview, Snowden was clear the facts. were being hacked by the US gov- that certain information he gave As Hong Kong and the world service ernment. me – often in order to better reflect on the year that has passed In a sign of his ability to share explain what at times were com- since Snowden’s revelations, the FORMER U.S. VICE-PRESIDENT AL GORE information, he sifted through plex technical issues – could not future of the man who aban- the details, alerting me to what be published and that he trusted doned everything he knew to But he remains a polarising was important and minimising me not to reveal it. expose the secrets of his own figure in the US. An NBC poll a some of the overly technical That wish for confidentiality government remains uncertain. fortnight ago showed 24 per cent details. His responses were was complied with at the time Hero, villain or something in backing him and 34 per cent dis- prompt, except for one moment and is an ongoing commitment between, Snowden represents agreeing with his actions, with 40 when the conversation slowed of mine and this newspaper. We that part of our psyche that ques- per cent having no opinion. and I wondered if something had tions the status quo. Among the younger generation happened. “Sorry, I have to deal His revelations triggered a there was more support, with 32 with something,” he said after a ONLINE vibrant, at times divisive and, in per cent backing him and only 20 short absence. scmp.com/greenwald Snowden’s words, necessary per cent opposed. Some mem- As we chatted, I took down all Check our website to watch debate about the right of every- bers of Congress have welcomed his answers in a notebook and at Snowden’s interview with one to privacy. the revelations but refuse to go as Glenn Greenwald The desk at which Lana Lam interviewed Snowden on a laptop provided by his confidante Laura Poitras one point, I looked up, taking in [email protected] far as supporting Snowden, who is wanted by the US and lives in exile in Russia. Gore, interviewed at a techno- logy conference in Nashville, Stone buys rights to thriller by Russian lawyer Tennessee, was asked if he viewed him as a whistle-blower ...... or a traitor. “I hear this question among a select group of public ten by Luke Harding of Britain’s Hollywood to China and all all the time. I’m like most people: Niall Fraser figures granted a meeting with The Guardian. points in between, Snowden has I don’t put him in either one of [email protected] the US fugitive during his stay of The producers of the James gripped the public imagination – those categories. But I’ll be can- over a month at Moscow’s Bond franchise will also make a not always in a positive way – did and give you what you want. Hollywood director Oliver Stone Sheremetyevo airport last year. movie about Snowden, after spawning movies, comic books If you set up a spectrum.” has acquired movie rights to a The lawyer helped Snowden Sony Pictures acquired the rights and even a lucrative portrait The interviewer interrupted: political thriller penned by US receive temporary asylum in to the new book by journalist painting business in Shenzhen. “How would you define it?” whistle-blower Edward Snow- Russia and has since acted as his Glenn Greenwald, who reported Within days of Snowden re- Gore replied: “I would push it den’s Russian lawyer, the pro- spokesman and link to the out- the story for The Guardian. vealing that the US had been more away from the traitor side. Kremlin attorney said yesterday. side world. Bond producers Michael Wil- hacking computers in Hong And I will tell you why. He clearly It is the latest in a series of Filmmaker Stone, a trenchant son and Barbara Broccoli will Kong and mainland China, four violated the law so you can’t say deals which illustrate that the for- critic of the American political make the movie version of No local amateur filmmakers pro- OK, what he did is all right. It’s mer National Security Agency establishment, has also pur- Place to Hide, described by Sony duced a five-minute thriller de- not. But what he revealed in the contractor’s story has lost none of chased the movie rights to an- as “a political film that will reso- picting the nail-biting intrigue course of violating important its potency. “The rights to my other book about Snowden writ- nate with today’s movie-goers”. surrounding the intelligence laws included violations of the US book have been handed over to A Google search for Edward leaker. constitution that were way more Oliver Stone and producer Mo- Snowden last night produced Shot in less than a week on a serious than the crimes he ritz Borman,” Anatoly Kucherena more than 50 million results – just shoestring budget, the film Verax committed. told Agence France-Presse. 600,000 short of the number for – Latin for “truth teller” and “In the course of violating “He [Stone] met with me, he US President Barack Obama. It Snowden’s online name – depict- important law, he also provided did not meet with Snowden. The reflects the astonishing effect the ed the drama leading up to Snow- an important service. OK. book will be published later.” man who knows too much has den’s leaks on vast US surveil- Because we did need to know Kucherena is completing a 39 had on the public psyche. lance programmes being made how far this has gone.” potboiler dubbed the Time of the Aside from the geo-political public in Hong Kong. Snowden’s supporters will Octopus, which tells the story of a Number of days Edward shifts his revelations have caused Though production was seize on Gore’s comments to US whistle-blower, loosely based Snowden spent in Moscow and the huge influence they have rushed, the film, became a major help make the case that he is a on Snowden’s experiences. airport before being had on privacy and trust in gov- YouTube hit. whistle-blower and should be One of Russia’s most high- granted asylum ernments, they have spawned a Additional reporting by allowed to return to the US as a profile lawyers, Kucherena was cultural cottage industry. From Agence France-Presse US schoolteacher Andrew Cromeek as Snowden in Verax. Photo: AFP free man.